Drea squealed and pulled away, looking up at the sky.Cujo laughed, took her hand, and raced for the truck.He helped her in before he ran to the driver’s side.
The sound of Drea’s giggles filled the cab as she tugged her wet T-shirt away from her chest.It was impossible to imagine any other woman filling his life with that kind of music.
“I love you, Drea.”He leaned across and brushed his lips against hers.
“I love you, too, Brody,” she whispered.
Yeah.We’re better than fucking good.He started the truck and pulled onto the side road that led to the highway.
The rain pounded on the roof of the cab, and Cujo fiddled with the air conditioning to demist the windows.
“The idea of going back to the real world kinda sucks,” Drea said, turning in her seat to face him.
“Yeah.I need to go and see Mom.”The time away had given him a chance to think.He just had to think of Evelyn as someone he’d never met before.It wasn’t the relationship he wanted with his mom, but it was better than none at all.
“I think I’d like to go and see her again, if you wouldn’t mind.I mean, I don’t know if she’ll want to see me, but if she does…”
Her words were confusing.“Why would shenotwant to see you?”
“Because I didn’t help.Because it’s my fault she’s there.But I’d like to apologize if I can.”
“Drea, you need to get over that.There is absolutely nothing you could have done against two men with guns.Except maybe getyourselfkilled.”
He heard Drea sigh, and saw the way she bit the side of her finger.He reached across and took hold of her hand.“I’m serious.She’s relieved you persisted in trying to figure out who she was.”
“I hope that’s true.”
He reached over and squeezed her thigh.“It is.And don’t worry,Cartermade sure to tell her how hard you tried to solve the case.”
Drea laughed.“Jealous much?”
“Yup.Unapologetically jealous when it comes to my sexy-as-fuck girlfriend and a good-looking guy in uniform.”
Drea patted his hand.“He’s not you, Brody.You know that, right?”
He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it.“Doesn’t stop him trying to be, Drea, but yeah, I know.”
It started to brighten as they closed the distance to Miami.Drea dozed and Cujo hummed along to the radio.
Just outside of Sweetwater, Cujo pulled over.The truck was low on gas.He filled the tank, and when he returned from paying, he found Drea awake and stretching.That woman rocked a T-shirt like no other.“Nice view.”
Drea laughed as they set off for the city.
His phone rang.It was Devon.“Yo, bro.What’s up?”
“You need to get to the hospital.”In the background, he could hear a door slam and a car engine start.
Cujo pressed his foot to the floor.“What happened?”
“It’s Mom,” Devon replied.“She got her memory back.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
“Why can’t we go in and see her?”Alec looked at Dr.Jaffrey.
“Just give us a few more minutes.Your wife is having difficulty adapting to the situation.This is not unusual, but the family circumstances in this case are adding to her stress.We offered her a sedative, but she refuses to take it until she sees you all.”
Cujo focused on the floor tiles, took a deep breath, and waited for a sign that the bile rising in his stomach wasn’t going to make its exit all over the floor.Drea rubbed small circles on his back, and he started to count them.Knowing she was there helped.
